5 Spanish Dishes That Are Not Paella

Because there's actually more food in Spain than tapas and paella. Some may not be pretty, but they're damn tasty.

1. Cocido

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Beautiful slow cooked stew with literally every meat. Chorizo, morcilla (a Spanish black sausage), ham, chicken, beef all mixed with chickpeas, potatoes and carrots done in a broth made from the meats. It's the Madrid equivalent to a Sunday roast. But better.

2. Arroz negro

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Rice made with squid ink sounds like it should be disgusting, but it's the exact opposite. Paella gets the fame as the rice dish, but trust me, this is worth a taste.

3. Pulpo a la Gellega

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Don't let the tentacles put you off because this tasty (and surprisingly meaty) dish is wonderful. Olive oil and paprika with perfectly cooked potatoes and a soft meaty octopus is more than just a tapa, it's a masterpiece for the tastebuds.

4. Fabes con almejas

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The coasts of Spain admittedly get the best dishes, including this simple beauty that lets the seafood shine with gently cooked clams and yet fills you up (has anyone else noticed that seafood is not filling?) with soft white bean clouds all in a white wine sauce. The white beans make the sauce creamy without the addition of actual cream, so has extra bonus points for being at least a little healthy.

5. Merluza en salsa verde

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Another fish dish with a lot of love. Merluza en salsa verde is hake poached in a white wine, parsley, and fish stock to create a sauce and served with egg, clams, white asparagus, peas and potatoes. It may be healthy, but never, ever does Spanish food skimp on taste.